Aerosol dispenser



Sept. 14, 1965 P. H. SAGARIN 3,206,081

AEROSOL DI SPENSER Filed March 8, 1963 United States Patent 3,266,031 AERGSOL DISPENSER Philip H. Sagarin, Bridgeport, Conn, assignor to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 8, H63, Ser. No. 263,984 3 Qlaims. (Cl. 222--394) This invention relates to small aerosol dispensers of the type intended to be held in one hand when in use, and more particularly to combinations involving the actuator and cap devices, in such dispensers.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hand-held aerosol dispenser of the guarded actuator type, wherein an effective and reliable hand grip means is had, enabling the dispenser to be readily and safely put to use with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved aerosol dispenser as above set forth, which is comfortable to hold, and which may be securely gripped without the likelihood of the user inadvertently dropping it.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved plastic cap construction for an aerosol dispenser so as to effect the foregoing advantages, which construction is simple, comprises few, easily-molded parts, and is economical to fabricate and assemble.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an improved aerosol dispenser made in accordance with the invention, shown as being held in one hand for actuation and use.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the cap and actuator construction of the dispenser.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the cap and actuator construction.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the cap and actuator construction.

FIG. 6 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing details of construction of the cap and actuator, the section being taken on the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the valve actuator button of the cap construction, and

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the valve actuator button of the construction.

Referring now particularly to the figure, the easily gripped, held and actuated aerosol dispenser of this invention comprises a pressurized container which may conveniently be of the 7 oz. size, such container being relatively high and of comparatively small diameter whereby its size enables it to readily fit into the hand and be gripped thereby. As an example, the container 1% may have a diameter of approximately 2" and an overall height of approximately 6".

In accordance with the invention, there is provided for mounting on the top of the container 10 a novel cap and actuator construction 12 characterized by high, side and front guard portions 14, 16 respectively surrounding a valve actuator button 18, the latter having in its upper surface a deep finger-receiving depression Ztl aligned with a deep finger notch 22 of the stationary cap body portion 24 of the construction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the deep finger notch 22 and the finger-depression 20 of the cap body and actuator button respectively are arranged to comfortably receive the forefinger 26 of the hand which holds the aerosol device, while the thumb 28 of the hand and the remaining fingers 30, 32 and 34 grip the sides of the aerosol device.

By the present invention, the cap construction 12 is pro vided on its lower portion with a protruding finger-grip band 36 of enlarged diameter and of appreciable width, such finger grip band being located an appreciable distance below the top guard portions 14, 16 of the cap body 24, as well as below the top surface 38 and finger receiving notch 20 of the valve actuator button 18. The finger grip band 36 is thus disposed at a point where it may be readily grasped by the thumb 28 and certain of the fingers 30, 32, 34 of the hand while the aerosol dispenser is being held therein in the normal manner for its operation, all as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The band 36 thus constitutes an annular protrusion or projecting ring which encircles the upper portion of the container 14) and is disposed intermediate the top and bottom ends of the dispenser, being specifically located closer to the top end as seen in FIG. 1. Thus, the band 36 constitutes a part which is especially arranged to be readily grasped and which projects from the otherwise smooth cylindrical surface presented by the remainder of the cap construction 12 and by the container 10.

If desired, the circular band 36 may be provided with any suitable knurling or roughening, as for example the straight ribs or ridges 42 shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

By the present invention, the finger grip band 36 constitutes an overshoulder formation with respect to the container 10, in that it comprises a bottom detent and mounting edge portion of the cap body 24, which is arranged to be snapped over the top annular seam 44 of the container, thereby to mount the cap and actuator construction there on. This organization is clearly illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, wherein the band 36 is shown as having an annular internal groove 46 adapted to snugly receive and retain therein the seam 44 of the container. The band 36 has an internal shoulder 48 defining one side edge of the groove 46 and constituting a stop which becomes operative when the cap body 24 is snapped over the upper portion of the container 10. The shoulder 48 accurately positions the cap body 24 on the container, as will be understood.

The cap body 24 further comprises an inwardly offset portion 50 which is of reduced diameter and which has an appreciably greater height than the finger grip band 36, as shown. As an example, the height of the band 36 may be approximately one-third that of the overall height of the cap body 24, or slightly less than one-half the height of the portion 50 of reduced diameter of the cap body. Between the portion 50 and the finger grip band 36 there is an annular shoulder 52, and the band 36 is preferably made to have a greater wall thickness than that of the portion 50 of reduced diameter. The increased wall thickness of the band 36 together with the reinforcing effect provided by the shoulder 52 results in a very secure retention of the cap and actuator button on the container 10, once this assemblage has been forced into place.

At its front portion the cap body 24 has a sloping upper wall 56 provided with a central notch 66 providing clearance for a nozzle member 62 carried by the valve actuator button 18. Correspondingly, the button 18 has a flat wall 64 at its front, to provide clearance in connection with the sloping front wall 56 of the cap body 24, thereby permitting the button 18 to be inserted into the cap body from the top thereof, and such insertion may be made after assembly of the cap body to the container, as will now be understood.

The valve actuator button 18 has a depending hollow boss 66 adapted to frictionally fit over the hollow valve stem 68 of the container, the arrangement being such that when the button 18 is depressed or forced downward, the stem 68 will be likewise shifted, opening the valve and permitting the aerosol substance to be discharged from the nozzle member 62. By virtue of the high guard 1!) portions 14 surrounding the button 18, inadvertent operation of such button will be prevented, as will be readily understood.

It will now be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved aerosol dispenser combination having a cap construction adapted to be fitted over the upper portion of the container, such cap construction providing a relatively wide, protruding annular or circular finger grip band spaced an appreciable distance down from the top surface of the actuator button and so arranged that it effectively prevents the otherwise smoothwalled container and cap from slipping out of ones grasp when the aerosol device is being held and used. This is of considerable importance in the case of infirm persons, or youthful users. As seen in FIG. 1, the finger grip band 36, protruding from the otherwise smooth cylindrical surfaces on both its upper and lower sides, is normally grasped between the thumb and the three end fingers when the aerosol device is being used. The protruding nature of the finger grip band enables the user to have a better grip on the device, this being true Whether the band is perfectly smooth on its exterior surface or is provided with knurling or other markings as shown. The band 36 further provides a secure anchorage and mounting for the cap construction, which may be economically fabricated of but few molded plastic parts.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An aerosol dispenser comprising, in combination:

(a) a container can having wholly cylindrical side walls and a transverse top wall, and having an annular seam joining the side walls and top wall, said seam projecting radially outward from the cylindrical side walls, said can further having an upstanding and depressible valve stem carried by said transverse top wall,

(b) a valve actuator button carried by the valve stem to actuate the latter, said button having an exposed top surface for engagement by a finger,

(c) a stationary plastic cap carried by the can and at its top surrounding and guiding said button, said cap comprising a cylindrical wall of substantial height and having a diameter commensurate with that of the container can, said cap further having a bottom generally cylindrical enlarged edge portion surrounding the annular seam of the can and interlockingly engaging the same, said edge portion having an annular internal shoulder engaged with the top of the seam to constitute a stop, and having a second internal shoulder spaced downward from the firstmentioned, shoulder and constituting a thickened bottom edge of the cap, said second shoulder being engaged with a lower exterior portion of the seam, said bottom edge portion of the cap extending upward from the first-mentioned shoulder an appreciable distance, V

(d) said cap having an annular finger-grip band comprising the said lower portion of the cap and constituting the maximum diameter of the dispenser, said band being of appreciable width which is equal at least to three times the width of said annular seam of the can, thereby to constitute a substantial finger grip and said cap being inwardly offset above the finger-grip band thereof, and having an annular strengthening shoulder joining said upper offset portion to said band, said shoulder and band constituting a reinforcement of the bottom edge portion to maintain the interlocking engagement thereof with the can scam, the thickness of the band being greater than the thickness of the inwardly offset portion to further etfect an additional strengthening,

(e) said finger-grip band presenting distinct, abrupt shoulder edges above and below it by virtue of said strengthening shoulder and the bottom edge of the band, said band further constituting in width a small fractional part of the entire height of the cap and being located an appreciable distance below the top of the cap and the top finger-engageable surface of the valve actuator button whereby, when using a normal handgrip to hold the dispenser, the forefinger easily rests on the bottom while the can and finger-grip band are grasped,

(f) said stationary cap including a deep curved finger notch in its top edge to accommodate the forefinger of the hand holding the dispenser, thereby to effect a proper orientation of the remaining fingers about the cap, finger-grip band, and container can.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the strengthening shoulder has a width which is commensurate with the wall thickness of the fingergrip band.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the finger-grip band has a roughened exterior, providing a non-slip surface.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,658,714 11/53 Fooshee. 2,819,116 1/58 Abplanalp. 2,965,100 12/60 Bridges 222394X 3,037,672 6/62 Gach 222 1s2 3,093,857 6/63 Hersh 222-394X 3,117,701 1/64 Stull 222-562 X RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN AEROSOL DISPENSER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A CONTAINER CAN HAVING WHOLLY CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALLS AND A TRANSVERSE TOP WALL, AND HAVING AN ANNULAR SEAM JOINING THE SIDE WALLS AND TOP WALL, SAID SEAM PROJECTING RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM THE CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALLS, SAID CAN FURTHER HAVING AN UPSTANDING ASND DEPRESSIBLE VALVE STEM CARRIED BY SAID TRANSVERSE TOP WALL, (B) A VALVE ACTUATOR BUTTON CARRIED BY THE VALVE STEM TO ACTUATE THE LATTER, SAID BUTTON HAVING AN EXPOSED TOP SURFACE FOR ENGAGEMENT BY A FINGER, (C) A STATIONARY PLASTIC CAP CARRIED BY THE CAN AND AT ITS TOP SURROUNDING AND GUIDING SAID BUTTON, SAID CAP COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL WALL OF SUBSTANTIALLY HEIGHT AND HAVING A DIAMETER COMMENSURATE WITH THAT OF THE CONTAINER CAN, SAID CAP FURTHER HAVING A BOTTOM GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL ENLARGED EDGE PORTION SURROUNDING THE ANNULAR SEAM OF THE CAN AND INTERLOCKINGLY ENGAGING THE SAME, SAID EDGE PORTION HAVING AN ANNULAR INTERNAL SHOULDER ENGAGED WITH THE TOP OF THE SEAM TO CONSTITUTE A STOP, AND HAVING A SECOND INTERNAL SHOULDER SPACED DOWNWARD FROM THE FIRSTMENTIONED SHOULDER AND CONSTITUTING A THICKENED BOTTOM EDGE OF THE CAP, SAID SECOND SHOULDER BEING ENGAGED WITH A LOWER EXTERIOR PORTION OF THE SEAM, SAID BOTTOM EDGE PORTION OF THE CAP EXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE FIRST-MENTIONED SHOULDER AN APPRECIABLE DISTANCE, (D) SAID CAP HAVING AN ANNULAR FINGER-GRIP BAND COMPRISING THE SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE CAP AND CONSTITUTING THE MAXIMUM DIAMETER OF THE DISPENSER SAID BAND BEING OF APPRECIABLE WIDTH WHICH IS EQUAL AT LEAST TO THREE TIMES THE WIDTH OF SAID ANNULAR SEAM OF THE CAN, THEREBY TO CONSTITUTE A SUBSTANTIAL FINGER GRIP AND SAID CAP BEING INWARDLY OFFSET ABOVE THE FINGER-GRIP BAND THEREOF, AND HAVING AN ANNULAR STRENGTHENING SHOULDER JOINING SAID UPPER OFFSET-PORTION TO SAID BAND, SAID SHOULDER AND BAND CONSTITUTING A REINFORCMENT OF THE BOTTOM EDGE PORTION TO MAINTAIN THE INTERLOCKING ENGAGEMENT THEREOF WITH THE CAN SEAM, THE THICKNESS OF THE BAND BEING GREATER THAN THE THICKN ESS OF THE INWARDLY OFFSET PORTION TO FURTHER EFFECT AN ADDITONAL STRENGTHENING, (E) SAID FINGER-GRIP BAND PRESENTING DISTINCT, ABRUPT SHOULDER EDGES ABOVE AND BELOW IT BY VIRTUE OF SAID STRENGTHENING SHOULDER AND THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE BAND, SAID BAND FURTHER CONSITUTING IN WIDTH A SMALL FRACTIONAL PART OF THE ENTIRE HEIGHT OF THE CAP AND BEING LOCATED AN APPRECIABLE DISTANCE BELOW THE TOP OF THE CAP AND THE TOP FINGER-ENGAGEABLE SURFACE OF THE VALVE ACTUATOR BUTTON WHEREBY, WHEN USING A NORMAL HANDGRIP TO HOLD THE DISPENSER, THE FOREFINGER EASILY RESTS ON THE BOTTOM WHILE THE CAN AND FINGER-GRIP BAND ARE GRASPED, (F) SAID STATIONARY CAP INCLUDING A DEEP CURVED FINGER NOTCH IN ITS TOP EDGE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FOREFINGER OF THE HAND HOLDING THE DISPENSER, THEREBY TO EFFECT A PROPER ORIENTATION OF THE REMAINING FINGERS ABOUT THE CAP, FINGER-GRIP BAND, AND CONTAINER CAN. 